Top Posts of 2012

To wrap up the year, here are our top 5 posts of 2012:

1. Accessibility – Stair Ramps
2. E-Portfolios: Webinar Recap, Tools, and Resources
3. 15 Free Ebooks about User Experience and Interface Design
4. DIY Usability & User Experience Workshop at METRO
5. Is Your Library People-Focused?

The Job Skills of the Future, and of the Past

Tom Kucharvy recently posted a provocative post on the job skills of the future, and of the past.

As technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, it becomes capable of performing more and more tasks that previously could only be performed by humans. As of now, only three types of jobs still defy automation—specific forms of non-routine tasks (both manual and cognitive) and complex communications. Technology, however, is now beginning to make inroads even into these.

Kucharvy focuses on 2 key skills for the high-value jobs of the future:

• Complex communication skills; and
• High-level cognitive skills.

Read the rest of Kucharvy’s post to learn more.

How will the job skills of the future and of the past affect libraries and the library profession?

4 Little-Known Tools for a 2012 Job Hunt

We talk a lot about LinkedIn, a well-known tool for networking and job hunting, but if you’re looking to ramp up your job hunt this year, check out this U.S. News blog post.

Blogger Miriam Salpeter highlights the following:

• Tokkster is an app that allows people on the same website to chat.
• Vizibility.com helps you to organize and share your online identity.
• StartWire lets you find out when your online applications are viewed and track the progress of your applications.
• Pinterest is an online pinboard that lets you share your expertise.

NYC Blogger Map

This is the NYC Blogger Map.

There are a million blogs in the city.
Here’s where to find 6293 of them.

Search for a blog by borough, subway line and even subway stop.

 Or register your blog to be included on the map.

Thank you Liz, Matt, and Mike for this ingenious resource.

Versatile Blogger Award

Thanks to Nicola over at Nikcreativ for passing this award to us.

Here are the rules:

• Thank and link to the blogger who bestowed the award
• Share seven random facts about yourself (see below)
• Spread the love by passing the award to five other bloggers–and be sure to let them know

Seven Random Facts About Us:

• We were both pre-med in undergrad.
• We are both Asian-American.
• We are both audacious librarians.
• We are both troublemakers.
• Between the two of us, we speak 4 languages: Chinese Cantonese, Spanish, Italian & NYC English.
• Lisa just got her driver’s license.
• Sandra is in a woodworking class and likes using power tools.

We’re Passing This Award To:

• The PLA Blog
• Putting People First
• Pleasure and Pain
• The 99 Percent
• Unlimited Photography